Analysis biosafety regulations for the protection of maize diversity in México

Abstract

The continuous search for solutions to the problems of agriculture, such as the shortage of seeds, pests, crop yields, among others, has led science to develop new strategies to improve the activities of the field and one of these advances are genetically modified organisms (GMOs), but the introduction of these organisms could have unintended consequences, as in the case of maize in Mexico, which could result in loss of diversity of maize by altering the DNA of the species native to the country . The legislation is one of the most important tools to minimize risks that could bring GMOs. In this paper we analyzed the biosafety law for GMOs in Mexico, in order to determine the efficiency of it, using the methodology checklist by a questionnaire specially designed for this particular case. After the evaluation found that the legislation has an average efficiency biosafety and biosecurity problem for maize in Mexico is uncertainty risk studies and poor planning for the establishment of monitoring programs and surveillance authorized crops as well as for environmental impact assessment in areas already contaminated.